Improvement in breech-loading fire-arms



W H. BROWN Breech-loading Fire-arm.

lNVENTOR.

Patented Match 4, 1862.

WITNESSES.

"-PEI'ERS, PHOT0-LITNOGRAPHER WASHINGTON. D C,

Unwrap STATES P TENT @rrrcn.

\Vhl. H. BRO\VN, OF \VORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

iMPROVEIVIEN'I' IN BREECH-LOADING FIRE-ARMS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. Zi flJNill. dated March 4, 1862.

To to whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WM. H. BROWN, of iVorcester, in the county of XVorcester and State of Massachusetts, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in the class of FireArms known as Breech-Loading; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents in black lines a vertical longitudinal section. Fig. 2 represents a front elevation. Fig. 3 represents a plan of the stock separated from the other parts. Fig. 4 represents a plan of the same with the barrel andlockingbar removed. Fig. 5 represents a plan of the locking-bar detached, and Fig. 6 a side view of the same.

The accompanying drawings represent so much of a fire-arm as is necessary to illustrate my invention.

A represents the stock; B, the barrel; 0,

the cartridge; D, the locking-bar; E, an ad-' justing-piece; F, a connecting-piece; G, the trigger-guard and lever combined; 0, a packing-piece, and J the breech. The breech J and that part of the stock A forward of the same, and extending back suiiiciently to give the necessary strength to the breech, and also to allow of its being properly united to the butt or stock of wood, I construct of one piece of metal, although the projecting part J of the breech may, if preferred, be made in a separate piece and attached to the other parts, in any suitable manner. The stock forward of the breech is grooved in the usual manner to receive the barrel B. It has also an opening, K, Fig. 3, underneath the barrel and extending quite through the stock, to admit of the insertion and free movements of the parts D and G- and their connections. The barrel B has an enlargement or downward projection, H, to which is hinged at a the rear end of locking-bar D, the other end of said lockingbar being slotted out, as'fully shown in Fig. 5, to receive the bent end b of the connectingpiece F, and where it is held by a pivot, c. The horizontal part of the connecting-piece F rests upon the adjusting plate or piece E, and is held thereon by means of screws (Z and e, the former passing down through a slot in the rear of F, thence through the adjusting-piece E into the combined trigger -projector and locking-bar G, while the latter, 6, passes up through G,,E, and F, as fully seen in Fig. 1, and has a nut, f, on its end,which holds down the front end of F upon the piece E. A piece, I, is attached to the under side of thebarrel at the front end of the stock, the edges of which piece I are grooved out so as to receive the tongues g g of the stock, as indicated in Fig. 2. The enlargement H is also grooved out to receive the rear tongues, hi1, of the stock, whereby the barrel is allowed a free longitudinal movement in the stock and parallel therewith when not restrained by the l0cking-bar D.

A circular recess, i,- is formed in the end of the barrel to receive the circular projecting party of the breech J, whereby a close-fitting joint is formed between the breech and the barrel when brought .together preparatory to firing, as indicated in Fig. 1. An inner and smaller circular recess, 70, is formed in the rear of the barrel to receive the flangel of the cartridge-case. ltecesses are also formed in the end of the barrel to receive the hooked projections m m m, which are secured to the breech-piece J in such a position as to receive and hold the cartridge in a central position as respects the bore of the barrel and in close contact with the breech during the process of locking the barrel and firing, and also in such a position as to retain the case or shell of the cartridge in the same position after the charge has been fired and the barrel moved forward to receive a new charge, so that the empty case can be conveniently removed.

The cartridge described is of that form in the flange of which, at the rear end, (the case being ofmetal,) is deposited the fulminate or explosive material.

The hooked projections in are rigidly connected to the breech-piece, and are so arranged in relation to each other that in loading the arm the cartridge can be placed in position by a simple downward movement of the hand,

the flange Z of the case passing between the two upper hooked projections, on, until the lower edge of the flange rests on the lower hook at, as indicated in the drawings. The case can be withdrawn in alike simple and expeditious manner, only the motion of the hand is up in removing the case.

The trigger-guard G is so constructed and arranged, being hinged to the stock at a, as to serve the purpose of a lever for sliding and locking the barrel. To it is secured the adjusting-piece E, as before described. Piece F is permitted to slide longitudinally just sufficient to allow the joint (at pin) 0 to pass the plane of the axes of joints a and a, there being slots in the said piece F, through whichthe bolts or. screws pass, which confine it in a parallel position as respects the adjusting-piece E,

but permit a slight longitudinal movement thereof, as stated. 0 is a packing-piece, (adjustable longitudinally,) and secured to the stock by a screw, 1), so that between the former and the stock packing can beintroduced when necessary, in consequence of wear or other cause, to effect a close joint of the barrel and the breech. The face of this packing-piece against which the end q of the locking-bar D bears is inclined somewhat, while the end (1 of the locking-bar is beveled off in a corresponding manner, so as to form a wedge or cam, by means of which, in connection with the adjusting screws 0 and r, any desired amount of pressure of the barrel against the breech may be given, and which is effected by unscrewing nut f and screwing in screw 9', thus'elevating the front ends of E, F, and D, whereby the barrel is forced further back when locked.- A spring-catch, L, serves to hold the guard G in position, as indicated in Fig. 1.

A look of any known or convenient form may be applied to or inserted in stock in rear of the barrel, and made to explode or fire the charge by causing the hammer of the same to strike against the pin 8, which is inserted and secured insuch manner as to allow of a limited longitudinal motion, and so that the inner or forward end of the same will be made to strike against the flange of the cartridgecase, in which is the explosive material.

Instead of the pin 8, a slot may be cut in the upper part of the breech and the hammer of the lock be made to strike the flange of the cartridge-case direct.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that by moving the guard downward and forward to the position shown in red lines, Fig. 1, the end q of the lockingbar will be removed or withdrawn from its seat and the barrel B carried forward, as shown in red lines, Fig. 1, so as to permit the insertion of the cartridge, as before stated, after which, by returning guard G to its original position, the barrel is forced back over the cartridge and against the breech J, and in which position it is held firmly by the locking-bar D. At first the parts are so adjusted that when the barrel is locked in position'a little space is left in between the front upper part of the lockingbar and the barrel, so as to allow of the bar being forced still further in, when necessary, to compensate for any wear in the joints. In

and grooves which hold the barrel and stock together will be disengaged, thus permitting the barrel to be lifted out from the stock and separated therefrom.

I am aware that fire-arms have been constructed in which, by various means, the bar rel is oaried forward or otherwise separated from the breech; that trigger-guards have been made to serve the purpose of levers for moving the barrel or other parts of fire-arms, and that other devices have been constructed for adjusting the joints at the breech. I do not therefore claim any of these, separately considered; but

What I do claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The peculiar method of moving the barrel in both directions, and holding it against the breech J by means of the locking-bar D, in combination with the parts E, F, and G.

2.- The combination and relative arrangement of the inclined or wedge-shaped adjustable packing-piece 0 with the stock and front beveled end of the locking-bar D, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination and arrangement of the adj Listing-piece E with the adjusting-screws e and r for adjusting the pressure of the barrel against the breech, substantially as set forth.

4.. The combination and peculiar arrangement of the connecting-piece F with the lock ing-bar D and the lever G, as described, whereby it is allowed a longitudinal motion to facilitate the passage of the joint 0 past the plane of the axes n and a during the operation of locking and unlocking the barrel.

5. The combination, with the stationary breech J and the recessed rear end of barrel B, of the projecting hooks m m m, constructed and arranged to operate as described, whereby the cartridge-case can be placed in position by a simple downward movement of the hand, and there retained in a central position as respeets the bore of the barrel until after the charge has been fired and the barrel unlocked, for the purposes set forth.

WVM. H. BROWVN.

Witnesses:

B. W. HYDE, D. H. ONEILL. 

